Aurelian; or, Rome in the Third Century
rouse this guilty people. Perhaps it is only by the use of such remedies
as he employs, that the heart of Rome--hardened by ages of sin--can be
made to feel. To the milder treatment of Probus, and others like him, it
seems for the most part utterly insensible and dead. At least his
sincerity, his zeal, and his courage, are worthy of all admiration.'
I assured her that I would befriend him if I could do so with any
prospect of advantage, but it was little that one could do against the
fury of a Roman mob. I then asked Piso if he would not accompany me; but
he replied, that he had already heard Macer, and was, besides,
necessarily detained at home by other cares.
As there was no conjecturing in what part of the city this Christian
preacher would harangue the people, and neither the Princess nor Piso
could impart any certain information, I gave little more thought to it,
but, as I left the palace on the Coelian, determined to seek the
gardens of Sallust, where, if I should not see Aurelian, I might at
least pass the earlier hours of the day in an agreeable retreat. I took
the street that leads from the Coelian to the Capitol Hill, as
affording a pleasanter walk--if longer. On the way there, I observed
well the signs which were given in the manner and conversation of those
whom I met, or walked with, of the events which were near at hand. There
is no better index of what a despotic ruler, and yet at the same time a
'people's' despot, will do, than the present will of the people. It was
most apparent to me that they were impatient for some quick and vigorous
action, no matter how violent, against the Christians. Language the most
ferocious met my ear. The moderation and tardiness of the Emperor--of
him who had in every thing else been noted for the rapidity of his
movements--were frequent subjects of complaint.
'It is most strange,' they said, 'that Aurelian should hesitate in this
matter, in truth as if he were afraid to move. Were it not for Fronto,
it is thought that nothing would be done after all. But this we may feel
sure of, that if the Emperor once fairly begins the work of
extermination, he is not the man to stop half way. And there is not a
friend of the ancient institutions of religion, but who says that their
very existence depends upon--not the partial obstruction of this
sect--but upon its actual and total extermination. Who does not know
that measures of opposition and resistance, which go but part way and
then stop, through a certain unwillingness as it were to proceed to
extremes, do but increase the evil they aim to suppress. Weeds that are
but mown, come up afterwards only the more vigorously. Their very roots
must be torn up and then burned.' Such language was heard on all sides,
uttered with utmost violence--of voice and gesture.
I paused, among other curious and busy idlers, at the door of a smith's
shop, which, as I passed slowly by, presented a striking view of a vast
and almost boundless interior, blazing with innumerable fires, where
laborers half naked--and seeming as if fire themselves, from the
reflection from their steaming bodies of the red glare of the
furnaces--stood in groups, some drawing forth the bars of heated metal
and holding them, while others wielding their cyclopean hammers made the
anvils and the vast interior ring with the blows they gave. All around
the outside of the shop and in separate places within stood the
implements and machines of various kinds which were either made, or were
in the process of being put together. Those whom I joined were just
within the principal entrance looking upon a fabric of iron consisting
of a complicated array of wheels and pulleys, to which the workmen were
just in the act of adding the last pieces. The master of the place now
approaching and standing with us, while he gave diverse orders to the
men, I said to him,
'What new device may this be? The times labor with new contrivances by
which to assist the laborer in his art, and cause iron to do what the
arm has been accustomed to perform. But after observing this with care I
can make nothing of it. It seems not designed to aid any manufacture of
which I have any knowledge.'
The master looked at me with a slighting expression of countenance as
much as to say 'you are a wise one! You must have just emerged from the
mountains of Helvetia, or the forests of the Danube.' But he did not
content himself with looks.
'This, sir?' said he. 'This, if you would know it, is a rack--a common
instrument of torture--used in all the prisons of the empire, the use
of which is to extract truth from one who is unwilling to speak except
compelled; or, sometimes, when death is thought too slight a punishment,
to give it an edge with, just as salt and pepper are thrown into a fresh
wound. Some crimes, you must know, were too softly dealt with, were a
sharp axe the only instrument employed. Caesar! just bring some wires of
a good thickness, and we will try this. Now shall you see precisely how
it would fare with your own body, were you on this iron frame and Varus
standing where I am. There,--Caesar having in a few moments brought the
wires--the body you perceive is confined in this manner.--You observe
there can be no escape and no motion. Now at the word of the judge, this
crank is turned. Do you see the effect upon the wire? Imagine it your
body and you will have a lively idea of the instrument. Then at another
wink or word from Varus, these are turned, and you see that another part
of the body, the legs or arms as it may be, are subjected to the same
force as this wire, which as the fellow keeps turning you see--strains,
and straightens, and strains, till--crack!--there!--that is what we call
a rack. A most ingenious contrivance and of great use. This is going up
within the hour to the hall of the Prefect.'
'It seems,' I remarked, 'well contrived indeed for its object. And
what,' I asked, 'are these which stand here? Are they for the same or a
similar purpose?'
'Yes--these, sir, are different and yet the same. They are all for
purposes of torture, but they vary infinitely in the ingenuity with
which they severally inflict pain and death. That is esteemed in Rome
the most perfect instrument which, while it inflicts the most exquisite
torments, shall at the same time not early, assail that which is a vital
part, but, you observe, prolong life to the utmost. Some, of an
old-fashioned structure, with a clumsy and bungling machinery--here are
some sent to me as useless--long before the truth could be extracted, or
much more pain inflicted than would accompany beheading, destroyed the
life of the victim. Those which I build--and I build for the State--are
not to be complained of in that way. Varus is curious enough, I can
assure you, in such things. All these that you see here, of whatever
form or make, are for him and the hall of justice. They have been all
refitted and repaired--or else they are new.'
'How is it possible,' I asked, 'so many could be required in one place?'
'Surely,' said the master, 'you must just have dropt down in Rome from
Britain, or Scythia, or the moon! Didst ever hear of a people called
Galilean or Christian? Perhaps the name is new to you.'
'No, I have heard it.'
'Well, these are for them. As you seem new in the city and to our Roman
ways, walk a little farther in and I will show you others, which are for
the men and the boys at such time as the slaughter of this people shall
become general. For you must know,--although it is not got widely abroad
yet--that by and by the whole city is to be let loose upon them. That is
the private plan of the Emperor. Every good citizen, it will be
expected, will do his share in the work, till Rome shall be purged.
Aurelian does nothing by halves. It is in view of such a state of things
that I have prepared an immense armory--if I may call it so--of every
sort of cheap iron tool--I have the more costly also--to meet the great
demand that will be made. Here they are! commend now my diligence, my
patriotism, and my foresight! Some of my craft will not engage in this
work: but it exactly jumps with my humor. Any that you shall choose of
these, sir, you shall have cheap, and they shall be sent to your
lodgings.'
I expressed my gratitude, but declined the offer.
After wandering a little longer around the huge workshop, I took my
leave of its humane master, still entreating me to purchase, and, as I
entered again the street, turned towards the capitol. My limbs were
sympathising with those wires throughout the rest of the day.
I had forgotten Macer, and almost my object in coming abroad, and was
revolving various subjects in my mind, my body only being conscious of
the shocks which now and then I received from persons meeting or passing
me, when I became conscious of a sudden rush along the street in the
direction of the capitol, which was now but a furlong from where I was.
I was at once awake. The people began to run, and I ran with them by
instinct. At length it came into my mind to ask why we were running? One
near me replied,
'O, it's only Macer the Christian, who, 'tis said, in spite of the
edict, has just made for the steps of the capitol, followed by a large
crowd.'
On the instant I outstripped my companion, and turning quickly the
corner, where the street in which I was crossed the hill, I there beheld
an immense multitude gathered around the steps of the capitol, and the
tall form of Macer just ascending them. Resolved to be near him, I
struggled and forced my way into the mass till I found myself so far
advanced that I could both hear and be heard by him, if I should find
occasion to speak, and see the expression of his countenance. It was to
me, as he turned round toward the people, the most extraordinary
countenance I ever beheld. It seemed as if once it had been fiercer than
the fiercest beast of the forest, while through that was now to be
discerned the deep traces of grief, and an expression which seemed to
say, "I and the world have parted company. I dwell above." His two lives
and his two characters were to be read at once in the strong and
deep-sunk lines of a face that struck the beholder at once with awe,
with admiration, and compassion.
The crowd was restless and noisy; heaving to and fro like the fiery mass
of a boiling crater. A thousand exclamations and imprecations filled the
air. I thought it doubtful whether the rage which seemed to fill a great
proportion of those around me would so much as permit the Christian to
open his mouth. It seemed rather as if he would at once be dragged from
where he stood to the Prefect's tribunal, or hurled from the steps and
sacrificed at once to the fury of the populace. But, as the cries of his
savage enemies multiplied, the voices of another multitude were lifted
up in his behalf, which were so numerous and loud, that they had the
effect of putting a restraint upon the others. It was evident that Macer
could not be assailed without leading to a general combat. All this
while Macer stood unmoved, and calm as the columns of the capitol
itself--waiting till the debate should be ended and the question
decided--a question of life or death to him. Upon the column
immediately on his right hand hung, emblazoned with gold, and beautiful
with all the art of the chirographer, the edict of Aurelian. It was upon
parchment, within a brazen frame.
Soon as quiet was restored, so that any single voice could be heard, one
who was at the foot of the steps and near the preacher cried out to him,
'Well, old fellow, begin! thy time is short.'
'Young man,' he replied, 'I was once old in sin, for which God forgive
me!--now I am old in the love of Christ, for which God be thanked!--but
in years I am but forty. As for time!--I think only of eternity.'